CenturyLink just sold off its data center business that was a combo of Qwest Cyber Centers and SAVVIS to a group of PE firms for $2.15B in cash and C-Link keeps a minority stake worth $150M in the new company. CL bought Savvis for $2.5B in 2011.

Inteliquent was formerly known as Neutral Tandem, with an initial business plan to be an alternative tandem switching platform for CLECs and VoIP Providers. They re-branded after they bought Tinet adding network to their strong voice service.

On my other blog, I linked to two WSJ graphics that show all of the consolidation in telecom. There is also a link to the fact that 6 companies own 90% of the media in the US. Consolidation under Obama has been unfettered.

In 2000, AOL bought Time Warner for $164 Billion, an outrageous amount of money fueled by the dot com bubble. It was the worst merger in history. AOL was spun off in 2009 and was acquired by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 Billion. Now, AT&T is looking to buy Time Warner for $85 Billion ($109B with debt included).

The Telecom Channel Partner Long Tail. 95/5 off-setting Pareto's Principle of 80/20. However, effort and real dollars are spent on the unproductive 95%. That is money and energy that could go into producing partners or marketing.